image [https://i.imgur.com/yFu9mOD.png]

IV

Snowspire's Invasion

Levi was wearing his best robe. The Vrost family’s emblem was strapped to to the chest of his blue and black dress. He’d gotten Jonathan to trim his beard and touch up his hair so his black locks fell just beyond his ears.

‘How do I look, Jonathan?’ Levi asked for the twelfth time.

‘Splendid, Sir.’

Splendid was good. If his wear was bad, the old snake would’ve said magnificent.

‘Then let’s go,’ Levi said. And he trod out of the manor house, preparing for war.

image [https://i.imgur.com/z6G5s0x.png]

‘This way, Sir Vrost.’

Levi followed the young maid—she couldn’t be over nineteen—through the hallways of the estate to the east wing, walking past a painting of his father as they did so. He was seated in a red velvet chair, his bathrobe draping over the floor.

Scandalous, Levi thought. His father’s mistress had painted that picture.

‘You should take that piece of art down,’ he said.

The servant released a surprised noise before following his gaze. ‘Is there something wrong with it, Sir Vrost?’

‘It’s a shame to our house.’

She didn’t know what to say.

Levi shook his head. ‘Forget it. My sister’s office.’

The servant nodded and led the way. She stopped in front of a wooden door shaped like an arch, which also had their House’s symbol etched into the front, and knocked.

‘Come in.’ Levi heard his sister’s cold voice.

He signalled for the servant to open the entrance, and inhaled before entering behind her. Sepharin was behind her desk. She nearly loomed over him despite sitting. Her snow-white hair fell to the small of her back, and the sight of it pinched a nerve-ending inside Levi.

Levi flicked his black hair back and forced a smile. ‘It’s been a while, Seph,’ he said.

He saw how she stopped a frown from creasing her forehead. ‘That it has. We should’ve met sooner.’

Met sooner my ass. How many times had she refused to meet him?

‘Past mistakes,’ Levi said, smile still visible. He took the seat opposite hers. The steaming pot of tea released the sweet aroma of black berries, which gently nudged his nose, soothing the chill that had nibbled at him on his journey here.

‘Please, help yourself,’ his sister said. ‘I had the maids prepare it for you.’

He doubted it. However, this was the most cordial start to a conversation they’d had in a while. He refrained from raising his eyebrow, but couldn’t stop his eyes from narrowing. Is she planning something?

Taking a gamble, Levi leaned on his manners and poured a cup for the regnant head of the house before doing so for himself. He quietly eyed Sepharin as he did. If she was going to burst, she would do so now…

‘Thank you, Levi.’ She lifted her cup and blew on it.

He blinked. It was almost…as if she had forgotten their past conflicts completely.

‘…Are you well, Seph?’

‘Perfectly so. How was your journey, Levi? I hope the Frozen Road was merciful.’

‘It was,’ he said, still beside himself. ‘The side roads less so.’ He blew the heat from his cup and considered whether to let her know of what had happened. ‘Our carriage was nearly robbed,’ he said after a moment.

‘Bandits? I wasn’t aware of their presence.’

‘It’s the season,’ he said. The North, especially the Duchy, was not a forgiving region no matter the time of year. But the winter was a true killer. Crops died, the roads froze, and any effort to clear them was made moot during the night. The cold was so fierce no hearth could keep it out. He’d seen the numbers on the ledgers. Dozens died every winter in their homes.

And those were just the ones that got reported.

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‘The Temples and churches do what they can,’ he said, ‘but the need is too great. We cannot help everyone.’

His sister hummed thoughtfully. He felt a spark of energy in her hand that nearly made him jump. A blue glow surrounded her palm, and the steaming of the cup halved instantly.

Sepharin pulled eagerly of her tea. ‘Did you report them?’ she asked. ‘I’ll see if I can get them taken care of.’

‘Taken—taken care of?’ he sputtered. ‘What do you mean?’

She raised her eyebrow. ‘They’re criminals, Levi. I’m the Warden. Obviously, I’m imprisoning them.’

‘They may be criminals,’ he said, ‘but they’re only trying to survive. Imprisoning them won’t do any good. Also, who is going to feed their families after they’re gone?’

‘All true,’ she said. ‘Yet they cannot be allowed to remain stealing.’

‘Of course not! But you need to tackle the source, not attack the result.’

His sister placed down her empty cup. ‘If you have an easy way to solve deep-rooted poverty and the frost, I’m all ears.’

‘…I don’t.’

‘And until then,’ Sepharin said, ‘they’ll be imprisoned.’ The ease with which she said it though…It was as if she was making a statement about a cool breeze. This complete apathy and lack of care for others, that was the Sepharin Levi knew, and also the Sepharin he despised.

Levi shook his head. It was like he thought: She should’ve never become the head, Darius. If only their older brother had returned. I’ll write him again, he decided. Then, he turned his attention back to his sister.

‘I’ve heard the rumours, you know,’ he said.

‘Rumours?’

‘Your request,’ he said. ‘You asked Castle Frost for their dead.’

She paused. ‘So I did.’

His mouth opened and closed. He hadn’t expected her to confess it so easily. ‘Are you serious, Seph?’ he asked. ‘You’re going to raise the corpses of the fallen frostguards?’

Even before she answered, a red rage stormed through Levi, and he slammed his hands on the table, making the porcelain rattle. ‘This is asinine, Seph! You cannot raise the dead! Father forbade it!’

She tilted her head. ‘Did he now?’

‘Did he now?! He specifically instructed you not to practise your necromancy under any circumstance!’

Sepharin stared at him for a moment. ‘That’s truly too bad,’ she said. And Levi thought he saw genuine guilt flash within her eyes. ‘I raised two of them already.’

The oscillating porcelain went quiet the same time Levi’s breathing got stuck in his throat.

‘You did what?’

‘You didn’t mishear me, brother,’ his sister said calmly, the guilt gone with the wind.

His hand formed a fist. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. ‘You’ve sinned.’

She waited for him to continue.

‘But you can still atone for this, Seph. You said it’s only two? Release them. Afterwards, we’ll go to the temple. I will personally ask the head priest to plead to Ruelle for your forgiveness.’

She stared at him for several seconds, looking like she was seriously considering it. But when she opened her mouth, whatever she wanted to respond was cut off by the blasting of a horn through the frozen air.

Levi whipped around. ‘What?! An invasion this far past the wall?’

Sepharin got to her feet immediately. ‘That was in the direction of the town.’ She was already bursting through the door.

Levi loped to catch up with her. ‘Where are the stables?’

‘Milady!’ A maid came running down the hall, face completely red.

Sepharin held out her hand to quiet the girl. ‘Lead us to the stables and then get everyone into the common room. The guard’s will receive my orders.’

‘Yes, Milady!’

And the three of them were off.

image [https://i.imgur.com/z6G5s0x.png]

After seeing the horses react to me yesterday, I feared my only option was a carriage. I was wrong. A young man—our stable master, most likely—led a tall destrier to the front. Black hide hugged thick leg muscles. The horse didn’t flinch even when I stroked a hand over its mane.

‘This will do,’ I said, lips curving.

‘Warden!’ The guard captain’s boots pelted the frozen ground as he rushed forwards. He handed me a sword and belt. ‘It’s all I could find.’

It was on the smaller side but it was double-edged and sharp.

‘That’ll be enough. Your men are to remain here and defend the estate. All the servants are gathered in the common room. Don’t let anyone in.’

The captain turned to another guard behind him who I’d seen walking the grounds once or twice. ‘You heard the Warden,’ the captain said. Then he strode to one of the horses, saddling himself.

I frowned. ‘You were included in my command, Captain.’

‘With all due respect, Warden,’ he said. ‘My duty is your safety. I go where you go.’

I considered. After a moment, I nodded, not wanting to argue because of a lack of time.

Levi mounted himself the same time as I did, and we rode for Snowspire.

image [https://i.imgur.com/z6G5s0x.png]

Snowspire was burning.

Dense smog clouded the skies above the farming village. It shrouded the barren fields, ate into the wooden homes packed around the manor house, and cast the silhouettes of the farmers in dark shadows. Already, the ash was infiltrating my nostrils and burning through my lungs.

‘Ruelle…’ Levi whispered the name of his patron God and coughed.

My destrier whined harder the closer we got. I patted him on the side of the neck. ‘Get me to that tree, boy.’

A lanky tree without leaves stood right outside the town borders, its bark as black as the ash. Next to it was a watchtower with a broken wall. An ivory horn lay in two pieces on the ground.

We tied our horses and ran the rest of the way into the town. Instinct made me cover my mouth and nose. The fires had swallowed many of the homes near entrance to the town.

These flames aren’t natural, I thought. I turned at the sound of shouting.

‘Please, help us!’

An older man dragged an unconscious elderly lady out of a home.

Levi rushed towards him. He helped the man lay the woman down in the middle of the road, placed a hand on her chest, and muttered under his breath. A golden light suffused his hands.

‘She’ll be alright,’ he said, eyes on the woman.

‘Thank the Lady Above,’ the grandfather cried. He was on his knees, hands clasped together in worship.

Screams thundered from further inside the town accompanied by what sounded like the roar of a great beast. I shivered.

‘Levi,’ I said, hurriedly, glancing at his hands and noting that the energy didn’t feel the same as miasma. ‘Can you defend yourself?’

‘I can cast a barrier but that’s it.’

Which wasn’t enough for my liking. I closed my eyes and imagined a crystal in my palm. The atmosphere, still cold despite the fires, whirled and shaped in the form I desired. I let go, and the crystal hovered in the air. Levi watched with a frown, which turned into wide eyes when it expanded, growing limbs and a head. The undead stepped out into the world, clothed in the regalia of House Vrost, shield and sword in tow. Arming my soldiers was part of the reason why I currently only had a blade to my name.

‘That’s…’ Levi began.

‘Save it for later,’ I cut him off. ‘It will protect the two of you. Captain, prepare yourself. We’re moving in.’

‘Warden!’ he saluted before falling in a guard stance.

We stormed into the heart of the chaos.